How can I find my career path?

How to Find a Career Path

• Answer:

  If you are searching for a career path, you are certainly not alone. All kinds of people, from high school seniors to senior citizens, know exactly what you are looking for and are on the same quest. How do you make such an important choice? Many people find themselves pushed into a certain career by parental or family pressure or they simply fall into a job and stay there, often for decades, but actually choosing a career path is very different. You can take steps to make an informed choice and help you navigate the journey to your dream job. Difficulty: Moderate Instructions Evaluate your skills. This part will appeal to people with logical minds---just make a list of everything you do well. Did you get all As in math without even trying? Well, then you are good at math---put it on the list. If you can write a paper, a business letter or a thank you note without stumbling and worrying, you are good at writing. Don't stop with your own evaluation; enlist the help of supportive friends and family members to tell you what you are good at doing. We are often our own harshest critics and may not even realize where we excel. Getting a second (or third, or fourth) opinion can only help in the search for your career path. Once you've got a pretty good list, it's time for the next step. Find your passion. You might not think that passion has much to do with a career path, but if you want to be satisfied with your job, it is vital. Anyone can get a job that will pay the bills, but if you want a true, fulfilling career, you will need to find your passion as well as your skills. Here's where logic really isn't important. What you are searching for when finding your passion is what makes you feel satisfied. Do you feel a strong need to help people, or are you obsessed with crunching numbers and making some kind of sense of seemingly senseless data? Do you thrive in an environment where you feel like you are expressing yourself, or do you hope to create something lasting for future generations? No passion is too simple or too outrageous to consider. Compare your lists---your skills and your passions. Here is where the two components, the logical and the ideal, come together and where you need a little perspective and creativity. Your ideal career path may not be completely obvious, but if you can work with your lists to make them make sense, you will be well on your way. If you really want to help people, and are good at math and science, you would do well to pursue the medical field or other sciences where you can make a difference in people's lives. Research the possibilities. Once you've got an idea of what kind of career you want to consider, start doing some research. While it's true that money isn't everything, you will want to know how much an accountant or a teacher or a nonprofit director makes as you are choosing your career path. Find out as much as you can about the careers that interest you and even seek out mentors in those field. The more "hands-on" experience you can get in your possible career, the better able you will be to make an informed decision.